Folding portable table



May 29, 1923.

E. o. ROBERTS ET AL FOLDING PORTABLE TABLE .Filed June 27. 1922 wa up? .72 1]- gwuewtowz- Patented May 29, 1923.

* at HE.

ELMER O ROBERTS AND RAYMOND F. DOTSCH, OF OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON.

FOLDING PORTABLE TABLE.

Applicationqfiled June 27, 1922. Serial No. 571,147.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, ELMER O. Romans and RAYMOND F. Dorsorr, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Olympia, in the county of Thurston and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Port,

able Tables; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in fol-ding portable tables, having for an object to provide a folding table especially advantageous for use by motorists, picnickers, or the like, the same being capable of being folded into compact and convenient form when not in use and likewise, capable of being adjusted to several different sizes when in its set up position.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a foldable portable table employing novelly arranged leaves, which when not in use, may be swung downwardly into substantial parallelism with the table legs giving a panel-like effect to the same or may be swung inwardly from the legs to approximately horizontal positions whereat they will not interfere in any way with the seating of persons about the table when the latter is used without the leaf extensions.

, Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation maybe readily'understood by persons skilled in the art, we have in the accompanying illustrative drawings and in the detailed following description based thereon, set out one possible embodiment of the same;

In these drawings:

Figure l'is a side elevation of the improved device;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same;

Figure 3 .is a fragmentary detail in vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction in which the arrows point, the View being enlarged; and,

Figure 4 is an elevation of the table when in its folded position.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout, the table may be stated to comprise a pair of top sections 1 hingedly connected at their adjacent ends as indicated at 2 and having oppositely disposed pairs of legs 3 arranged to swing to positions adjacent the under sides of their opposite end portions when the table is in set up position. 'Ilhe hinging of these oppositely disposed pairs of legs 3 is effected by means of substantially right angularly formed strap metal hinges indicated by the numeral 4, said hinges being pivoted as at 5 to the under sides of the outer portions of the top sections 1 as clearly shown in the Figure 3, while the opposite ends of said hinges are pivoted as at 6 to leaf portions 7, which, in turn are affixed to the adjacent sides of the upper ends of said pairs of legs 3. Because ofthe right angular formation of the metal strap hinges 4, it will be understood that the table legs may be swung upwardly over the upper sides of the top sections 1 in the manner as indicated in the Figure 4t, whereby the table may be folded into compact andcon- Venient form during its non-usage. However, when the table is to'be used, it is only necessary to swing the legs outwardly and downwardly until the squared shoulders of the upper ends thereof abut against the adjacent flat portions of the under sides of said sections 1 in the manner shown in Figure 3. When in this form, the*legs will be efiectually braced with relation to the table top sections and in consequence, will provide an efficient form of support.

In order that the size of the table may be increased, we provide leaf extensions, indi cated by the numeral 8, said extensions be ing of a size such as to permit of their snug reception between the opposite legs of the several pairs, whereupon said leaves are pivoted to the upper portions of the spaced legs as indicated at 9. Because of this connection of the leaves 8 with the oppositely disposed pairs of table legs, it will be under; stood that the same when not in use will be permitted to swing to substantially vertical positions whereat they will be, in substantial parallelism with the table legs, thus giving a panel-like effect tothe same by reason of the reception of the leaves therebetween.

Braces or arms 10 are pivoted to the inner sides of the intermediate portions of the various legs 3 and have their outer ends bifurcated as indicated at 11, whereby they may be removably engaged with studs 12 carried upon plates 13' secured to the inter-,

.mediate portions of the opposite sides of said extensions 8 in the manner shown in the Figure 4 o If desired, suitable eyeletsv may b gaged with portions of the upper the adjacent portions of the under sides of the table top sections 1, the,. ey. elets being arranged so as ito [pass through openings formed in the strap metal angularhinges 4e,

, whereuponloc-king pins such as indicated by the numeral 1% intheFigure 3 are passed through the ex tendedportion of: said eyelets'and' engage with the adjacent portions. of the metal strapahinges whereby to prevent accidental or undue displacement ofthe same fromsaid eyelets and in consequence,, to ensure retaining said pairs of legs in their vertical or Set up positions.

In using the improved folding portable table,.the sections 1 are swung into horizontal alignment, as shown 111 the'Figure l,

whereupon the several pairs of legs are swung outwardly'and downwardly until the squaredv shoulder portions thereof abut against the adjacent portionsof the opposite sides of said leaves; this being shown in the Figure 3. At this time, should it be desired to employ the "leaf extensions "8, the

' same are swung upwardly ontheir respecnftive pivot points 9 and the oppositely disposed braces or supporting arms 10 are then swung upwardly so that the bifurcated ends v11 will engage or receive the corresponding i table will be materially increased.- When-- stud 12 on the several plates 13 arranged on opposite ends of the leaves; With thearin;

10 so engaged. with the stud i2, it will be understood that said leai'extensions 8 will be supported in substantially horizontal positions and likewise,'that the size of the it-is desired not to [use the leaf extensions 8,-t-l10. l1'1'n 10, have theinbifurcated tree ends'disengaged from the adjacent studs 12, thus permitting-said extensions to swing :downwardly to substantially vertical po{ sitions as shown in the Figure 3, whereat the leaves will be in substantial parallelism to their respective oppositely disposed legs 3, th1isgivingthe legs a panel-like effect-by. reason of the'recep'tion of said leaves thereends of: i the oppositely disposed pairs of legs 3 and between, Should it be desired to swing the v leafezr'tensions to inoperative positions so as to facilitate the seating of persons about the table, the leaves may be swung inwardly and upwardly'lto the positions'ishown in dotted dash lines in the Figure 3, where'- upon theirrespective supportingarms 10 will be swungupwardly so as to engagethe bifurcated end portions 11 with the nearest or adjacent studs 12 on the several plates 13. By this engagen'ient'oi? the ruins 1O vith the studs12, the leaves 8 will be supported in their innermostipositions and will not interfere in any 'way whatsoever-with the seating ofpersons about the table.

Ii desired, hook and eyes gene-rally indi- 'cated by the numeral 14; may be secured to certain ofthe marginal portions of the table top sections l lIl order that said sections maybe interlocked when the table. is in "its folded or'collapsed position, such arrange-' ment being clearly shown in the Figure a. Manifestly, the construction shown [is ca pable of considerable modification andsuch modification as is within the scope of our spirit of our snuglyv receivable] therebetween in substant ial parallel relation 'thereto at times, and adapted t-o beswung. inwardly atsubsta'ntiallyright angles to suchilegs' at other times, arms pivoted to the inner sidesjo-f thei'ntermediate portionsyof said legshaving their free ends bifurcatedfand plates having longitudinally spaced studs-thereon secured to the opposite end portions receivable in, said bifurcated ends {of'the arms, as and foixthe purpose set forth.

of said leaves, i

In witnessr whereof we have hereunto set V our hands.

ELMER o. ROBERTS. RAYMOND nnorso a; 1 

